Eine Auswahl von 20 Drucken und Handschriften über die Kunst der Alchemie
"Long shrouded in secrecy, alchemy is now recognized as the ancestor of modern chemistry. Alchemists were notorious for attempting to make synthetic gold, but their goals were far more ambitious: to transform and bend nature to the will of an industrious human imagination. For scientists, philosophers, and artists alike, alchemy seemed to hold the key to unlocking the secrets of creation. Alchemists’ efforts to discover the way the world is made have had an enduring impact on artistic practice and expression around the globe. Inventions born from alchemical laboratories include metal alloys for sculpture and ornament, oil paints, effects in glassmaking, and even the chemical baths of photography. The mysterious art of alchemy transformed visual culture from antiquity to the Industrial Age, and its legacy still permeates the world we make today."
— David Brafman, Rare Books Curator, Getty Research Institute
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1Earliest printing of Arabic physicians in a modern vernacularArzneibuch.Nuremberg, 17.03.1477.
€ 95.000,00One of the earliest medical books in the vernacular and the first printed German pharmacopoeia. First dated edition: an undated edition was published at Augsburg in the same year, followed by four more printed editions before 1500. Of the utmost rarity, no copy of the present first edition traceable at auction or in the trade since 1950. Only Lathrop …
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2Unique, early Renaissance alchemical manual drawing on Rhazes and the Arabic tradition, a source for Hieronymus Bock and Western botanyAn alchemist's handbook, in German. Illustrated manuscript on paper.Germany, ca. 1480/90.
€ 350.000,00A Renaissance alchemist's handbook, quoting Al-Razi by name and deeply rooted in the Islamic tradition of alchemical art. An intriguing manuscript which bears witness to early practical chemistry in 15th century Germany and to the immense influence of Arabic alchemy, illustrated with talented watercolour diagrams of the associated apparatus.
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3"One of the earliest Western documents showing a revival of interest in botany" (Hunt): A magnificent, heavily annotated copy, ex-libris Fairfax MurrayDe viribus herbarum.Geneva, ca. 1496.
€ 75.000,00The Fairfax Murray copy of a landmark botanical incunable, being the first or second illustrated edition of "one of the earliest Western documents showing a revival of interest in botany" (Hunt I, p. 4). Following unillustrated Italian printings in 1477 and 1482, the Genevan Jean Belot (printer of the 1495 "Fasciculus temporum", the 'Fardelet du …
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4First edition of this "first 'medical dictionary' - an invaluable storehouse of facts - and fancies" (Wightman)Onomastikon medicinae.Strasbourg, 14 April 1534.
€ 9.500,00First edition of this Renaissance dictionary of natural science compiled by Otto Brunfels, the "father of German botany", best known for pioneering the emancipation of that field from mediaeval herbalism. "Brunfels' passion for compiling and organizing reference material [...] was fully exhibited in his 'Onomastikón', a comprehensive dictionary …
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5Surgical instruments illustratedOmnes, qui proximis seculis scripserunt, medicos longe excellentis opera …Basel, 1540.
€ 9.500,00Rare edition of this commentary on the ninth book of the treatise dedicated by ar-Razi (also known as Rhazes; 850-923 or 932) to Almansor, the Prince of Chorosan (with the text). "The manual, known as 'Nonus Almansoris', was popular among mediaeval physicians" (cf. GAL S I, p. 419). The work discusses special pathology but excluding pyrology and …
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6The first edition to call Geber an Arab: profusely annotated throughout(De alchemia). In hoc volumine de alchemia continentur haec. Gebri Arabis, …Nuremberg, 1541.
€ 48.000,00The rare first edition of this extremely important and early collection of alchemical writings, which unites several first printings of works previously circulated only as manuscripts. This is first edition to call Geber an "Arab", the first to use "Summa perfectionis magisterii" on the title-page, and also the first printing of the famous "Smaragdine …
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7De alchemia dialogi duo. Quorum prior, genuinam librorum Gebri sententiam, …Lyon, 1548.
€ 8.500,00Erste lateinische Ausgabe des 1544 erstmals in Venedig unter dem Titel "La Espositione di Geber philosopho" erschienenen Werkes. Der in Dialogform abgefasste Band enthält im ersten Teil die Unterhaltung zwischen einem gewissen Demogorgon und Geber über dessen Werke. Im zweiten Teil unterhält sich Demogorgon mit Raimund Lull über dessen "Lignum …
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8The first book on smallpox[Kitab al-Gadari wa 'l-Hasbah - latine.] Libri duodecim; Razae de pestilentia …Strasbourg, 1549.
€ 7.500,00First Latin edition of this collection, published in Greek by Stephanus in Paris the previous year (itself a translation from Syriac): the twelve books on medicine by Alexander of Tralles, the first parasitologist in medical history (and the younger brother of Anthemius, architect of the Hagia Sophia), issued with al-Razi's classic treatise on smallpox …
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916th century collection of nine alchemical tracts, including one by Ibn SinaDe alchimia opuscula complura veterum philosophorum, quorum catalogum sequens …Frankfurt, 24 March 1550 preface.
€ 25.000,00Extremely rare edition of this collection of nine alchemical tracts, including "De tinctura metallorum" (On the Colorations of Metals), attributed to the great Arab scientist Ibn Sina, who is known in the Latin tradition as Avicenna. Ibn Sina was one of the most significant thinkers and writers of the Islamic golden age, and his bibliography comprises …
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10De secretis libri sex mira quadam rerum varietate referti ex italico in …Basel, 1559.
€ 2.500,00Erste lateinische Ausgabe von Alessios "De secretis", hier noch im Umfang von sechs Büchern. Der Verfasser wird meist identifiziert mit dem Alchimisten Girolamo Ruscelli (1520-66). "Das Werk gehört nach Caillet zur 'haute philosophie hermetique'. Es enthält außer alchemistischen auch viele kosmetische Rezepte, ferner solche gegen Pest, Schlangengift, …
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11Renaissance alchemical manuscript showing a distillatory furnace, combining Paracelsian and Kabbalistic traditionsAlchemical manuscript on vellum containing a series of complex symbols, …Northern Italy, not before 1560s.
€ 45.000,00An unusual and sophisticated alchemical manuscript showing a range of influences from Paracelsus to the Kabbalah.
Beginning in the middle of the single gathering, the manuscript contains a series of complex symbols and diagrams with cipher text, encoding alchemical processes. The illustrations start off with a symbol incorporating four watchtowers, …
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12Verae alchemiae artisque metallicae, citra aenigmata, doctrina, certusque …Basel, 1561.
€ 45.000,00Very rare first edition. "One of the earliest collections of alchemical writers, containing 53 texts [...] A very important item" (Duveen). Among the authors of these treatises highly sought after by 16th century disciples of the hermetic sciences are Geber (Jabir ibn Hayyan), Avicenna, Roger Bacon, Arnaldus de Villanova, Albertus Magnus, Ramon Llull, …
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13Der erste (-ander) Theil, deß köstlichen unnd theuren Schatzes Euonymi …Sankt Gallen, 1582-1583.
€ 5.800,00Das alchimistische Hauptwerk des Schweizer Arztes, Botanikers und Zoologen Gessner: die erste deutsche Gesamtausgabe des "Thesaurus de remediis secretis", übertragen von dem Zürcher Theologen Johann Rudolf Landenberger und dem Mediziner Johann Jakob Nüscheler. Der erste Teil war bereits 1555 in deutscher Sprache erschienen; die lateinische Erstausgabe …
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14An Arabic work on alchemy, quoted by GoetheDe transfiguratione metallorum, et occulta, summaque antiquorum philosophorum …Hanau, 1593.
€ 6.500,00Final and best 16th century edition of this alchemical work originally written in Arabic, the first edition having appeared at Paris in 1559. The legendary Byzantine monk Morienus is said to have gone to Alexandria to study with the Arabian scholar Adfar, whose favourite student he became. Subsequently settling in Jerusalem as a hermit, he devoted …
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15Auriferae artis Das ist, Der Goldtkunst: Die man Chemiam nennt, Uhrälteste …Frankfurt a. M., 1597.
€ 7.500,00Sehr seltene erste deutsche Ausgabe dieser Sammlung alchemistischer Schriften. Mit einer Vorrede ("Typographus lectori") des Basler Buchdruckers Peter Perna, der 1572 die erste lateinische Ausgabe der "Auriferae artis" druckte. Perna erwähnt Geber, Avicenna, Rhases, Arnaldus de Villanova und Lull.
Die vorliegende Ausgabe ist von besonderer …
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16Mit umfangreichen alchimistischen Notizen eines zeitgenössischen BesitzersRosarium novum olympicum et benedictum. Das ist: Ein newer Gebenedeyter …Basel, 1608.
Auf AnfrageErste Ausgabe des alchimistischen Handbüchleins, sehr selten. Vorliegend ein schön erhaltenes Exemplar mit den umfangreichen Annotationen eines Alchimisten des 17. Jahrhunderts.
Der erste Teil enthält Auszüge aus den Schriften von Paracelsus, Salomon Trismosin und Trithemius, wobei Sudhoff, der eine genaue Inhaltsangabe gibt, die Echtheit …
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17Forerunner of Computer Science: author's presentation copy to the Superior General of the Jesuit SocietyArs magna sciendi, in XII libros digesta, qua nova & universali methodo …Amsterdam, 1669.
€ 50.000,00First and only edition of this work important for the theory of science. Its fundamental idea of connecting all branches of science in a common system is based upon the thoughts of Ramon Llull. "Represents the 17th century research for a universal language" (Merill) and is considered a "fascinating anticipation and precursor of computer science" …
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18Grimaldy's panacea: a very rare treatise from the library of Henri JolietLe tombeau de l'envie, ou il est prouvé qu'il n'y a qu'une medecine, qui …Dijon, 1679.
Auf AnfrageExtremely rare treatise on a panacea by Denis de Maubec, de Copponay de Grimaldy (1623?-1717). This curious author was alchemist, personal physician to the king of Sardinia and founder of the Académie chimique ducale-royale de Savoie. He is known from a few short treatises from the end of the 17th century and his posthumous work published by Jourdan …
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19Complete collective medical manuscriptAl-Urjuza fi l-tibb [Poem on Medicine] and other medical and alchemical …Probably Ottoman Empire, ca. 1690s / late 17th century CE.
€ 40.000,00A fine, complete composite medical manuscript, including pharmacological and alchemical material. The principal section is formed by the "Urjuza fi l-tibb", or "Medical Poem" of Ibn Sina, which can be considered a poetic summary in 1326 verses of the author's great encyclopedic textbook, the Qanun. The verse form made it popular as a mnemonic in …
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20InscribedDeux Logis Alchimiques. En Marge de la Science et de l'Histoire.Paris, 1945.
Auf AnfrageFirst edition of this modern classic of alchemy with an autograph inscription to the French engineer and occultist René Alleau (1917-2013): "À l'ami, au disciple, affectueusement, fratenerellement, cette franche contribution à l'étude de la vieille Science d'Hermès; [...]".
Eugène Canseliet (1899-1982) was the most important alleged …